Steel siding shear



Jan. 9, 1968 J- A. HUGGINS 3,362,070

STEEL SIDING SHEAR Filed June 27, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,362,070 STEEL SIDING SHEAR James A. Huggins, Racine, Wis., assignor to W.P.B. In-

dustrial Products Co., Inc., Racine, Wis., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 27, 1966, Scr. No. 560,574 8 Claims. (Cl. 30-250) This invention relates in general to a cutting device for sheet steel. It deals more particularly with a device especially suited for cutting sheet siding material such as employed in the building trades.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved device for cutting sheet material.

It is another object to provide a new and improved device for cutting sheet siding material.

It is still another object to provide a compact, handpowered cutting device which more effectively cuts sheet steel siding material of the type in common use in the building trades.

It is yet another object to provide a cutting device of the aforedescribed character which more effectively cuts double four sheet steel siding material, while consistently making a clean cut and effectively avoiding distortion of the material.

It is a further obect to provide a cutting device which simple and effectively provides a greater mechanical advantage to cut multiple thickness sheet material, for example.

It is still a further object to provide an improved blade construction for a sheet material cutting device.

It is yet a further object to provide more effective adjustability of the side blades in a sheet material cutting device so as to assure consistently cleaner cutting of the sheet material.

It is another object to provide a cutting device of the aforedescribed character which is simple and inexpensive in construction.

The foregoing and other objects are realized in accord with the present invention by providing a cutting device including a center blade assembly which is movable by hand through a cutting stroke relative to a fixed side blade assembly. A first portion of the cutting stroke is relatively fast travel through the greater part of the steel siding section, comprised of single thickness material. A

second portion of the cutting stroke simply and efiectively employs a compound lever, giving a higher mechanical advantage with slower travel for cutting multiple thickness sheet material.

A first form of the invention is embodied in a cutting device for cutting the aforementioned double four sheet steel siding material. This cutting device includes cooperating blades which are formed to receive the conventional offset of the double four siding material. This area of the cooperating blades is constructed according to the present invention to effectively prevent tearing, for example, of the material as the blades cooperate in cutting it. In a second form of the present inventtion, the cooperating blades present straight opposed cutting edges for cutting conventional flat siding material.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, taken with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end perspective view of a section of double four sheet steel siding;

FIGURE 2 is a similar end perspective view of a section of conventional straight sheet steel siding;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of a cutting device embodying features of the present invention, illustrating the device as constructed to cut double four steel siding, and shown partially through its cutting stroke;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the cutting device with the blade assemblies closed;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 3, with the blade assemblies closed;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view through the center blade of the cutting device;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the cutting device as constructed to cut conventional fiat siding, and illustrating the various center blade positions; and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 7.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURE 1, a section of sheet steel siding material is illustrated generally at 10. The section 10 is conventional double four sheet steel siding. It is an elongated, generally flat section having a right angle offset 13 which divides the section 10 into an upper segment 14 and a lower segment 15.

The lower edge 16 of the double four siding section 10 is bent into two right angles in any inwardly extending flange 17 and an upwardly extending lip 18. The lip 18 is designed to slip upwardly into a locking fold 20 formed outwardly and back upon itself on the upper edge 21 of the next uppermost section 10 of siding material. As will be seen, the locking told 20 is again folded back upon itself to form a nailing flange 22. As is conventional in building a house, for example, sections 10 of siding material are placed one above the other on the side of the house in interlocking relationship.

Referring to FIGURE 2, a section 23 of flat siding material is illustrated. The flat section 23 is identical in construction to the double tour section 10 hereinbefore discussed except that it is not provided with a right angle offset along its mid-section. As such, it is substantially flat and has an inwardly extending flange 24 and upwardly extending lip 25 on its lower edge, and a locking told 26 formed on its upper edge 27, together with a nailing flange 28.

Referring now to FIGURES 3-5, a cutting device or shear embodying features of the present invention and adapted to cut the double four siding seen in FIGURE 1, is illustrated generally at 30. The shear 30 includes a base 31 in the form of a channel member. The channel member 31 includes upstanding legs 32 and a web 33 connecting the legs.

Mounted between the upstanding legs 32 of the channel member 31 is the side blade assembly 40 of the shear 30. Pivotally mounted on the side blade assembly 40 is a center blade assembly 41. The center blade assembly 41 and side blade assembly 40 cooperate according to the present invention to cut double four siding material, such as the section 10, with ease and speed.

The side blade assembly 40 is fixed between the upstanding legs 32 of the channel member 31 by suitable threaded bolts 50 and nuts 51. The side blade assembly 40 comprises a pair of side blades 55 through which the bolts 50 extend. Spacers 56 on the bolts 50 separating the blades 0 55 and, in addition, between the blades 55 and the upstanding legs 32 precisely space opposite ends of the blades 50 at a distance very slightly greater than the thickness of the center blade 60 in the center blade assembly 41. Note that the spacers 56a are threaded onto the bolts 50 as Well as through corresponding apertures in the leg 32 to tightly clamp the blades 55.

The center blade 60 is mounted for pivotal movement through a shearing stroke on a pivot pin 61 extending through the side blades 55 adjacent one end thereof. It will thus be seen that in its shearing stroke the center blade 60 is pivoted downwardly between the side blades 55 so that the cutting edge 65 on the center blade 60 and the cutting edges 66 on the side blades 55 cooperate in cutting sheet material, such as the double four section illustrated in FIGURE 1.

Each side blade cutting edge 66 has a profile conforming substantially to the cross-sectional configuration of the double four siding section 10. As such, it will be seen that each blade 55 has an L-shaped notch 70 formed downwardly from its edge 66 adjacent the pivot pin 61. The L- shaped notches 70 are shaped to receive the flange 17 and lip 18 of the double four siding section 10 through their vertical legs 71. The legs 71 are wide enough to admit the lip 18, which then slides into the horizontal feet 72 of the notches. The vertical legs 71 and horizontal feet 72 of the notches 70 are deep enough so that neither the lower end of the flange 17, nor the outer end of the lip 18 bottom in their respective receiving legs or feet.

Each side blade cutting edge 66 is furthermore divided into an inner edge 66a and an outer edge 66b separated by an offset edge 660. The inner edge 66a is inclined slightly downwardly toward the offset edge 66c, which is vertical, as best illustrated in FIGURE 3, while the outer edge 66b is substantially horizontal. In addition, short lengths 66d and 66e of the cutting edges, both defined in the L-shaped notches 70, serve as cutting edges for the flange 17 and lip 18 of the siding material section 10 when the center blade 60 is drawn downwardly in a shearing stroke between the side blades 55.

The right angle offset 13 in the double four siding section 10 rests snugly against the offset edge 660, while the upper segment 14 of the siding section rests flush against the outer blade edge 66b and the lower segment 15 rests against the inner edge 66a. The flange 17 of the siding section 10 is thenseated loosely against the blade edge 66d, while the lip 18 is suspended immediately above the blade edges 66a, in position to be seated against these edges when the center blade 60 is drawn downwardly in a shearing stroke.

The center blade 60 slices through the double four section 10 of siding material as it rests on the side blade 55 in the manner hereinbefore described. The center blade 60 actually comprises a pair of opposed half blades 80 (see FIGURE 6) fabricated of tool steel and having outwardly bevelled edges 81. The half blades 80 are secured together by a series of short machine screws 82 so as to form a single blade 60 having a double lower edge 65. This construction facilitates easily sharpening the edge 65 by merely separating the half blades 80 and grinding the surfaces 81 flat. Like the center blade 60, the lower blades 55 are also fabricated of tool steel.

The profile of the center blade 60 and its cutting edge 65 is illustrated in FIGURE 3. Here it will be seen that the edge 65 includes an inner edge 65a, an outer edge 65b, and an offset edge 65c, connecting the inner and outer edges 65a and 65b. This is generally the cross-sectional configuration of the double four section 10 of siding material.

According to the present invention, the length of the inner edge 65a from the pivot pin 61 to the olfset 65c is precisely that which will cause shearing of the offset 13 in the siding section 10 to begin approximately mid-way between the upper and lower segments 14 and 15. As such, the right angle juncture between the lower segment 15 and oifset segment 13 of the siding section 10 is cut cleanly as the inner cutting edge 65a of the center blade 60 continues to pass through the section 10, without any tearing or other deformation of the sheet material. In addition, the offset blade edge 650 on the center blade 60 is somewhat longer than the corresponding offset blade edges 660 on the side blades 55 (and the offset segment 13 in the siding section 10). Accordingly, the entire lower segment 15, together with the immediately adjacent portion of the offset segment 13 in the section 10 are completely sheared through before shearing of the upper segment 14 and the corner where it joins the offset segment 13, begins.

The outer blade edge 65b on the center blade 60 extends straight to a point immediately short of the locking fold 20 on the siding section 10 when it is positioned properly, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. At this point, the outer blade edge 65b inclines upwardly away from the locking fold 20, as illustrated at 85. Accordingly, when the center blade 60 reaches and begins cutting through the locking fold 20, a greater cutting angle is provided, thus giving a lower cutting rate and increased cutting force.

Through the cutting stroke of the center blade 60 relative to the side blades 55, up to a point where the locking fold 20 is reached by the upwardly inclined edge on the center blade, the center blade is pivoted downwardly through its cutting stroke by unassisted manual pressure on the blade 60 imparted through a handle 90. The handle is slightly longer steel strip than the blade 60, having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration so that it brackets the free end 91 of the center blade 60. The free end 91 of the center blade 60 extends between the side walls of the handle 90 and is pivoted thereto by a pivot pin 92 extending between the side walls.

The blade 60 is stroked downwardly through the siding section 10 to a point immediately short of the locking fold 20 by pressure exerted on the handle 90 which is extended parallel to the center blade 60 (as seen in dotted lines in FIGURE 3) and rigidly transmits force to the center blade 60 through the pivot pin 92 and a stop roller 95 extending between the side walls of the handle 90 at its inner end. The roller 95 seats against the edge 65 of the center blade 60 in the edge recess 96 formed in the blade 60 adjacent the inclined edge section 85.

When this first cycle of the cutting stroke has been completed, the handle 90 is pivoted about the pin 92 from its dotted line position in FIGURE 3 to its solid line position, and the stop roller 95 is seated against identical downwardly inclined surfaces 100 on the side blades 55 under corresponding lips 101 formed at the outer ends of the blades 55. The parallel sides of the handle 90 bracket the blades 55 in this relationship.

The outer end of the handle 90 is then pulled forward toward its dotted line position, pivoting about the pin 92. The handle 90 also pivots about the roller 95 on its inner end as the roller translates down the inclined surfaces 100. Greatly increased force is applied to the center blade 60 and it easily cuts through the locking told 20 and nailing flange 22 of the siding section 10 to complete the cutting of the section.

Cutting a siding section 10 with the shear 30 according to the present invention is simple, fast, and effortless. It is only incumbent upon the operator to keep the center blade edge 65 relatively sharp in the manner hereinbefore described and to maintain properly adjusted spacing between the side blades 55. This is accomplished in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5.

The side blades 55 are fixed in spacing at their opposite ends, as previously described. Adjacent the mid-points of the blades set screws 105 are threaded through nuts 106 welded on the legs 32 of the channel member 31. Lateral adjustment of these screws 105 in the nuts 106 effects precision adjustment of the blades 55.

Turning to FIGURES 7 and 8, a substantially identical shear is illustrated at as adapted to cut the flat siding sections 20 illustrated in FIGURE 2. It will be seen that the shear 130 differs in that the blade edges and 166 of the center blade 160 and side blades 155, respectively, are straight from the pivot pin 61 to the inclined edge section of the center blade edge (the side blade edges 155 are, of course, straight along their entire lengths).

The channel member 31 of the shear 130 is also shown to be welded on the wider base 200 of an inverted channel member 201. To properly support the siding piece 23 for shearing, a pair of support pins 202 are adjustably mounted for longitudinal movement in slots 203 in the base 200 bracketing the blade assemblies 140 and 141. Thus, the siding piece 23 rests on the pins 202 during shearing, as illustrated in FIGURE 7. If it is desirable to shear at an angle, one or both pins 202 can be moved in their slots 203 to accommodate turning the siding piece 23.

The shears 30 and 130 both are preferably fastened on short pieces of tWo-by-four inch lumber (not shown) which extends in the direction of their handles 90. These provide portable bases for operation of the shears. The lumber pieces and the Webs 33 of the shears channel members are apertured (as at 110) to facilitate ejection of the scrap material strip left after each shearing stroke through a siding section or 20.

It will be recognized that supporting structures for the blade assemblies 40 and 41 might be varied without changing the invention in any way. For example, although a channel member 31 base with upstanding legs 32 has been described, it is within the purview of the invention that such a channel iron might be transferred into the blade assembly mounted on its web 33 for assembly. In such case, suitably formed stanchions mounted on the base of the channel member would support the side blades 55 and the side blade adjusting structure.

While several embodiments described herein are at presend considered to be preferred, it is understood that various modifications and improvements may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and improvements as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is desired to be claimed and secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A device for cutting sheet material, comprising: elongated lower blade means, elongated upper blade means, first pivot means connecting said blade means adjacent corresponding one end thereof, elongated actuator arm means, second pivot means connecting said arm means intermediate its inner and outer ends to said upper blade means adjacent its other end, stop means for limiting pivotal movement of said arm means relative to said upper blade means when said arm means is operated to move said upper blade means through a first stage of cutting stroke, and disengageable cooperating means between said lower blade means and said inner end of said arm means defining third pivot means, whereby when said cooperating means are engaged and said arm means is operated to move said upper blade means through a second stage of the cutting stroke, an increased mechanical advantage is eifective for cutting relatively heavy gauge material.

2. The cutting device of claim 1 further characterized in that one of said second and third pivot means is constructed to afford translatory movement between said arm means and said blade means when said arm means is operated to move said upper blade means through said second stage of the cutting stroke.

3. The cutting device of claim 2 further characterized in that said second pivot means is a fixed position pivot pin, said third pivot means including a pin on said arm means engageable with track means formed on said lower blade means and translatable along said track means.

4. The cutting device of claim 3 further characterized in that said third pivot means includes a roller mounted on its pin and movable on said track means.

5. The cutting device of claim 1 further characterized in that said upper blade means and said lower blade means have cooperating cutting edges, said cutting edges having an offset substantially adjacent their mid-points for receiving the offset segment of a sheet siding material section, an inner edge portion on said upper blade means being longer than a corresponding inner edge portion on said lower blade means whereby said blade means engage and begin cutting the offset segment of the siding section approximately midway along its height.

6. A device for cutting sheet material comprising elongated lower blade means, elongated upper blade means, first pivot means connecting said blade means adjacent corresponding one end thereof, elongated actuator arm means, second pivot means connecting said arm means intermediate its inner and outer ends to said upper blade means adjacent its other end, stop means on the inner end of said arm means for limiting pivotal movement of said arm means relative to said upper blade means when downward pressure is applied to the outer end of said arm means to move said upper blade means through a first stage of a cutting stroke, and retainer means as sociated with said lower blade means for releasable engagement by said stop means to define third pivot means between said lower blade means and said arm means, engagement of said stop means with said retainer means after said first stage of said cutting stroke and subsequent downward pressure on the outer end of said arm means causing said arm means to pivot about both said second and third pivot means and move said lower blade means through a second stage of the cutting stroke at a relatively increased mechanical advantage.

7. The cutting device of claim 6 further characterized in that said retainer means comprises a track formed on said lower blade means, said stop means moving in translation along said track as said arm means pivot about it.

8. A device for cutting a section of sheet steel siding material, including an offset center segment, a flange and lip formed along one edge, and a locking fold formed on the other edge, comprising: a spaced pair of elongated side blades, an elongated center blade, first pivot means connecting said blades adjacent corresponding inner ends, cutting edges formed on said side blades and center blade for cooperation in a scissors cutting stroke, a generally L-shaped notch formed in the cutting edges of said side blades to receive said flange and lip, cooperating otfset blade portions for receiving the offset segment of the siding section, an upwardly inclined portion on said center blade edge for engaging and cutting said locking fold, elongated actuator arm means, second pivot means connecting said arm means intermediate its inner and outer ends to said upper blade means adjacent its other end, stop means for limiting pivotal movement of said arm means relative to said upper blade means when said arm means is operated to move said upper blade means through a first stage of cutting stroke, and disengageable cooperating means between said lower blade means and said inner end of said arm means defining third pivot means, whereby when said cooperating means are engaged and said arm means is operated to move said upper blade means through a second stage of the cutting stroke, an increased mechanical advantage is effective for cutting relatively heavy gauge or multiple thickness material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 552,364 12/1895 Glunt 30250 X 1,112,076 9/1914 McGorvin 30-258 X 2,789,642 4/1957 Schwork 30-258 X 2,869,235 1/1959 Klenk 30-258 X WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR CUTTING SHEET MATERIAL, COMPRISING: ELONGATED LOWER BLADE MEANS, ELONGATED UPPER BLADE MEANS, FIRST PIVOT MEANS CONNECTING SAID BLADE MEANS ADJACENT CORRESPONDING ONE END THEREOF, ELONGATED ACTUATOR ARM MEANS, SECOND PIVOT MEANS CONNECTING SAID ARM MEANS INTERMEDIATE ITS INNER AND OUTER ENDS TO SAID UPPER BLADE MEANS ADJACENT ITS OTHER END, STOP MEANS FOR LIMITING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ARM MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID UPPER BLADE MEANS WHEN SAID ARM MEANS IS OPERATED TO MOVE SAID UPPER BLADE MEANS THROUGH A FIRST STAGE OF CUTTING STROKE, AND DISENGAGEABLE COOPERATING MEANS BETWEEN SAID LOWER BLADE MEANS AND SAID INNER END OF SAID ARM MEANS DEFINING THIRD PIVOT MEANS WHEREBY WHEN SAID COOPERATING MEANS ARE ENGAGED AND SAID ARM MEANS IS OPERATED TO MOVE SAID UPPER BLADE MEANS THROUGH A SECOND STAGE OF THE CUTTING STROKE, AN INCREASED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE IS EFFECTIVE FOR CUTTING RELATIVELY HEAVY GAUGE MATERIAL. 